The school year is limping along to the finish line and summer is in the air (but not quite here yet– that honor belongs to June 21). What is there To Do?
Do you love us? Then why not vote for us and all your favorites in Washington City Paper’s Best of DC? You’d make us all so happy! The link is here.
Want to feel like a kid again? Then swing by the Northeast Library on June 17th, July 15th and August 19 for their Adult Summer Camp series. Tomorrow, stop by starting at 2 p.m. and make ice cream!
Or you can feel like a kid by riding a bike around the neighborhood. Hill Family Biking is going down the Frederick Douglass bridge and hitting up Ice Cream Jubilee afterwards for a frosty treat. Sign up here.
Don’t forget! Sunday is Father’s Day! How will you celebrate that figure that taught you how to throw a ball and hammer in a nail, offered calm and life lessons, or was just the one who told you you were simply the best (other than Tina Turner)? Hurry and make a reservation, or maybe just swing by Eastern Market and make him a homemade feast! Another suggestion? Why not get the Pool Party Pack from Side Door pizza? One 10×14 pizza and a cooler tote with five frosty canned beverages that’s yours to keep sounds excellent, whether you have pool plans or not. More info here. Finally, and off-Hill, Swingers Golf is unveiling their brunch offerings. The Sunday Set starts this Father’s Day. Reserve here.
Afterward, why not continue the sea-themed fun and hit Barrel’s “Little Mermaid” themed SEAeasy? Enjoy Nemo-sas, Ursula’s Old Fashioneds and other perfectly named libations, plus poke and other ocean bites. The SEAeasy will be open Wednesdays-Saturdays through the summer.
Live, on the Hill continues to go strong. Every single Friday (weather permitting), you can expect a wonderful local artist to liven up Eastern Market Metro Park. The fun starts at 5 p.m. so get some takeout, bring a blanket or sit on one of the red chairs and enjoy! More info here.
And don’t forget: from 1-4 p.m. every Friday through the end of July, come play chess! More info here. By the way! The tournament is on June 24. More information here.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Rosé all Day at Yards Park is June 17!! $35 gets you two drinks, plenty of games and activities and all the Instagrammable backgrounds your little heart desires. Get glittered, get sequined, croquet away with rosé! For tickets, click here. (If any Rosé wine makers want to sponsor my weekends, please email me.)
As part of the Pride month lineup, Dragathon ExtravaGAYza at the Hill Center is a big ol’ gay festival sashaying into our lives on Sunday, June 18. Drag excellence, story time, a food truck and so much more. For more info, click here.
June is also time for our newest Federal holiday, Juneteenth! The emotional celebration of emancipation for all enslaved people is remembered all over the DC area. Two events of note for your calendar:
- Celebrate Juneteenth is happening in Brookland on Sunday, June 18. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., enjoy Black arts, culture, eats and more at the Brookland Arts Walk. For more information, click here.
- And on Sunday, JUNETEENTH, go to the beautiful Anacostia Community Museum and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., enjoy music, bands, trivia, and DOUBLE DUTCH. I sucked at it when I was a kid and I don’t expect I have gotten any better, but I could watch Double Dutch all day. For more info and directions, click here.
- CHAW’s newest exhibit is by photographer Tadel Asfaha and it opens on Juneteenth. “God Hates Us” examines the shrinking Black population in the District with an unflinching eye. More information here.
Did you know National Yoga Day is on June 21? Salute the sun at Yards Park with a special free yoga class at 7:30 a.m. Space is limited and tickets are almost sold out, but it’s FREE and it sounds fun. Register here.
WEEKLY FUN
May and June kick off outdoor movie season. Cinematery tickets at Congressional Cemetery are available here. NoMa BID kicked off their CiNoMatic series earlier this month. Click here for available movies and dates. Movies on the Pitch at Audi Field continues on June 22 with Wakanda Forever. Click here for tickets. Union Market continues their Drive-In at Union Market June 2, with King Richard. For info and tickets, click here.
Did you say you wanted to learn something fun and maybe keep that body movin’? Then why not take tap at CHAW? Classes start June 12. More info here.
Mr. Henry’s is THE place to listen to jazz on the Hill. They have performances Wednesday through Saturday, but we have a soft spot for Saturday Showcase. This weekend, listen to the Capitol Jazz Orchestra. Doors open at 6 p.m. and there is no cover; however, you need to order a minimum of $15 food and beverage minimum. Get the burger and go for it. Tickets and more info here.
Want to get your square dance on with the DC Rawhides? They are yee-hawing their way into our hearts on Saturday evenings, 7-11 p.m., at Eastern Market’s North Hall. Click here for more info.
A Sunday tradition, the Flea Market at Eastern Market is your one-stop shop for wonderful art, clothing, cosmetics and more. Follow them on Instagram here.
Labyrinth has great events almost every night of the week, except for Monday. If you’re looking to demo board games or enjoy some of your favorites with old and new friends, check out their event calendar. For instance, their Magic: The Gathering night is on Tuesdays. More info on that event here.
as you are on Barracks Row has great events happening almost every day of the week: from crafting on Wednesdays to karaoke on Thursdays and Sundays to Saturday dance parties, this queer-safe space welcomes everyone. Check out their calendar of events here. Don’t forget! Charles Allen will be holding office hours TODAY starting at 4 p.m.!
On Wednesday evenings, make it trivia! Two Girls Trivia runs a quiz at Fight Club starting at 7 p.m. You can also catch them at Biergarten Haus on Tuesday evenings. For more information and quiz hints, check out their Twitter, @twogirlstrivia.
Every Thursday and Friday, Kelly’s Irish Times has comedy! The Batting Cage Comedy show starts at 8 p.m. and is free on Thursdays. More info here.
And every Thursday, Wunder Garten is doing late night Happy Hours, starting at 9 p.m. Let’s face it: Some of you out there are late owls and you need this. For more info, click here.
OFF-HILL
Join District Cleanups for another fun get-together and beautification Saturday. This time, they will tackle Fort Stevens park in Brightwood, starting at 11 a.m. Bring your lovely self to 6001 13th Street NW. More info here.
Dupont Underground’s “The Ground We Stand On” is an exhibit on local LGBTQ+ changemakers that will be on display through June 25. Get more info and tickets here.
Joy of Motion is having a special celebration of their founder, Michelle Ava, this Saturday, June 10, at the Harte Theatre in the campus of Catholic University. Spring Awakening is a tribute showcase and reception: There will be pros dancing along with student dancers as they pay tribute to Ava and her guiding principle that dancing is for everyone. The reception will follow after the show. You can get tickets here.
The Capital Hill Boys Club (Capital as in $$) have created an incredible art space out of a former laundromat, which you can visit this weekend. Two artists are on display: Denise Hawkins, also known as Ms. D, who works with jute, and graffiti artist Brian Bailey. The gallery is at 1603 Good Hope Rd SE. For more information, contact Dietrich Williams or check out our Instagram reel!
One of my personal favorites, the National Building Museum, has a Lego-themed exhibit! Brick City celebrates famous architecture rendered in Lego, and little hands can take turns playing and creating their own ouchie-block masterpieces. For more info, tickets and membership options, click here. I am a proud supporter of the Building Museum and highly encourage you to support them and their mission as well, and no, they have not paid me to say this.
Rainy days are for watching a movie in a comfy theater. The Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market has a great selection of movies. Check them out here.
Mondays can be tough days, but Songbyrd has Music Trivia this and every Monday up in Union Market district to gladden hearts and fuel your competitive spirit. The best part? It’s ALL AGES! Enjoy it with friends or as a family. More info here.
Want to experience a new neighborhood? City Ridge in Ward 2 welcomes you to their Rockin’ at the Ridge series, starting June 2. For more information, click here.
PLAN AHEAD
I have it on very good authority that Summer Movies on the Lawn at the Library of Congress will kick off on July 6, but the movie is TBD! Keep those summer Thursdays open!
June is also great for catching Jazz in the Garden. Sign up for tickets here.
Thinking ahead to Father’s Day (or to people in your life who were like a father figure day), why not sign up dear old dad or yourself for a Bourbon blending class with District Made Spirits! This two-hour class will walk you through understanding the spirit itself and its nuances so you can blend your own batch. Click here to sign up.
And on June 24, join THE District fishwife herself, Fiona Lewis, as she leads an evening talking about fish, sustainability, and cooking seafood at the Hill Center. The landing page for this event features Lewis’ recipe for one of my favorite soups ever, cioppino. If you’ve never had it, just click through! Sign up for this life-changing event here.
Also on June 24, go to Songbyrd DC for Unni’s Closet and Friends for their Y2K Flea Market from. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is an all-ages pop-up, so come on by one and all! More info here.
On Sunday, June 25, prepare for a monster collab: Hill Family Biking x DC Queer Bikes will ride down and around the Anacostia River Trail. As with all Hill Family Biking rides, prepare to complete the loop and then beeline to get some ice cream from Capital Candy Jar! Sign up here.
The Miracle Theatre is kicking off an $8 Summer Series starting off on June 30. Watch classics like Labyrinth, Jaws and more for only $8! Click here to get tickets.
The Capitol Hill Fourth of July parade is coming and YOU are cordially invited to march along Barracks Row, from I Street SE to Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Check out more info here and sign your group up to march here.
Are you ready for Barbie: The Movie? Wunder Garten sure is! Get ready for the Barbie Parties, starting July 15. More info here.
The DC Bike Ride is coming on September 9, by the way! Enjoy 20 miles of car-free, safe streets! Learn more or sign up here.